Calling all emerging playwrights and theatre creators: The 2026-2027 Young Creators’ Unit is now accepting applications!
Offering theatremakers innovative workshops, 1:1 consultations, and group activities that focus on creation, dramaturgy, and professional development, applications for the 12th edition of the Young Creators Unit program are now open!
Application deadline: Sunday, July 19, 2026, 11:59PM EST.
All applicants will receive a response by August 16, 2026.
If you have any questions regarding accessibility, require assistance with this application, or would like to discuss alternative methods of applying, please contact accessibility@playwrights.ca.
“I’ve loved being in this year’s Young Creators Unit. Leila facilitates our cohort with a fervent loyalty towards our plays and what our writing wants to say. Here I have learned to revere my creative impulses and to lean on my peers’ expertise. Leila, the other YCU playwrights, and the theatre professionals I’ve met during our outings have made me feel like my play has found its home in this city. Thank you PWM!”
— Hanesa Banks (’26)
About the Young Creators Unit
Are you a theatre maker under 30, looking to hone your craft in storytelling? Do you have a brilliant idea for a play, but are not sure how to get it on paper? Or maybe you need feedback and guidance to elevate your first draft to the next level?
If any of this sounds like you, then PWM’s Young Creators Unit is the place to develop your craft. This creative incubator supports emerging artists to find their voice, make connections, and learn new storytelling skills, all while developing the practical skills they need to establish a successful career in the arts. All you need to apply is an idea, question, theme, image, or more!
The YCU will once again be led by PWM’s Artistic Producer & YCU Dramaturg, Leila Ghaemi. From September 2026 -June 2027, participants will receive 1:1 dramaturgical sessions with Leila, mentorships with industry professionals, and group writing sessions and workshops. YCU participants are also provided professional development resources and opportunities, such as grant writing support and guidance, access to local theatre experiences and performances, and networking opportunities.
The program will run from September 9th, 2026, to June 2nd, 2027. Group sessions will take place weekly on Wednesdays from 5-8PM in the PWM Creative Studio, located at 7250 Rue Clark, suite #103.
If you are interested in learning more about the Young Creators Unit and PWM, or about the YCU 2026-2027 Application process, please email Leila at leila@playwrights.ca.
PWM welcomes all applications. While recognizing that the identity of each person is fundamentally plural, and multidimensional, we strongly encourage applications from artists who are: Indigenous (First Nations, Métis, and Inuit), Black, POC, racialized (including recent immigrants), 2SLGBTQQIPAA+, neurodivergent, living with disability, chronic illness and/or chronic pain. PWM is strongly committed to supporting a wide range of cultural identities and lived experiences, therefore we encourage applicants to self-identify in their application if they are comfortable doing so.
Eligibility
- Be an artist aged 30 or younger;
- Be a Canadian citizen or hold permanent residency status in Canada;
- Be located in Montreal and able to attend sessions in person;
- Be available for the whole program, September 2026 – June 2027;
- Be willing to participate in group activities during the program.
How to Apply
If you are interested in applying, please fill out this Google Form by 11:59 PM EST by July 19th, 2026. Your application will require the following information:
- A brief bio of yourself, and your experience as a storyteller/creator.
- A brief description of the work you would like to develop (writing and / or artistic samples are encouraged).
- A brief description sharing why you would like to join the Unit, and what you hope to get out of the experience.
- Any additional writing and/or artistic materials you would like to have considered with your application. This can be a current script excerpt, mood boards, music playlists, past work, etc.
This helps us get to know you and what sparks your interest as an artist and how you might fit into the YCU ensemble!
Due to the high level of interest in the YCU each year, we will be holding interviews with some of the potential candidates to learn more about their interests and goals, and what they hope to gain from the program. This is also a great opportunity for you to ask us questions! Please note that not all applicants will be contacted for an interview, and that an interview does not indicate whether or not you have been accepted into the program.
The number of Cohort members we can accept are limited. Participants are expected to attend the group sessions, 1:1 meetings, as well as commit to additional self-directed activities. Please only apply to the Unit if you are able to commit to the full intensive schedule. All applicants will be informed of their results by Sunday, August 16th, 2026. Click here to preview the application form as a PDF.
The Selection Process
Once the application period is closed, all applications will be reviewed and considered by a selection committee. Please note that there are many factors that go into the selection process, such as group dynamics and the range of experiences and points of views within the Cohort. Decisions will not be based on training or competencies; we therefore encourage applications from all backgrounds and experience levels.
If you have any questions, please contact YCU’s Lead Dramaturg, Leila Ghaemi, at leila@playwrights.ca.
YCU is led by PWM’s Artistic Producer & Dramaturg, Leila Ghaemi.
Leila Ghaemi (she/her) is a proud Persian dramaturg and theatre educator. She received her BFA in Theatre Arts and MFA in Theatre Education & Direction from Boston University’s School of Theatre, where she trained in dramaturgical methods. Having spent over a decade working for various theatre organizations in the United States and Canada, Leila has been fortunate to evolve her artistic practices professionally and academically, specifically in new play development. Her artistic pillars include MENASA representation, radical theatre empowerment, and creating diverse, equitable, and inclusive spaces on and off stage. Leila also serves on the board for Persephone Productions Montreal. When not dreaming about theatre, her world revolves around her pit-pug puppy Gigi and her two very sassy cats: Leslie & Hiccup.
Learn more about the Young Creators Unit.
The YCU is made possible through the generous support of our funders:
